Short Summary

THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF DAHOMEY'S INDEPENDENCE WAS CELEBRATED ON SATURDAY (AUGUST 1) WITH A MILITARY PARADE THROUGH THE STREETS OF COTONOU, THE NATION'S CHIEF PROT AND MAIN BUSINESS CENTRE.

Description

1.
SV DIGNITARIES ARRIVE
0.09

2.
SV LADIES ON PLATFORM
0.12

3.
TROOPS MARCH BY
0.19

4.
LV PLATFORM AS TROOPS MARCH BY
0.23

5.
GV PLATFORM AS BOYS BAN PASS BY
0.28

6.
LOW ANGLE. AEROPLANES FLY OVER
0.32

7.
SV PAN MOTORCYCLES PASS BY
0.44

8.
SV VIPS ON PLATFORM
0.46

9.
SV PAN. HALF TRACK VEHICLES PASS BY
0.51

10.
TV MOTORCYCLES PASS BY
0.58

11.
LV PRESIDENT REVIEWS TROOPS
1.05

12.
SV DITTO
1.09

Initials DS/S/RM/SGM

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF DAHOMEY'S INDEPENDENCE WAS CELEBRATED ON SATURDAY (AUGUST 1) WITH A MILITARY PARADE THROUGH THE STREETS OF COTONOU, THE NATION'S CHIEF PROT AND MAIN BUSINESS CENTRE.

THE PRESIDENT OF DAHOMEY, M. SOUROU APITHY, TOOK THE SALUTE AS UNITS OF THE ARMY, THE YOUNG PIONEERS AND THE AIR FORCE PASSED BY IN REVIEW.

A FORMER TERRITORY OF FRENCH WEST AFRICA, DAHOMEY ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE ON AUGUST 1, 1960 AND ALTHOUGH A SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORY RETAINS CLOSE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TIES WITH FRANCE.

MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS WERE HONOURED GUESTS AT THE CELEBRATION AND JOINED THE PRESIDENT AND HIS SENIOR MINISTER ON THE REVIEWING STAND AS UNITS OF DAHOMEY'S 800-MAN ARMY MARCHED BY.

EARLIER, PRESIDENT APITHY UNVEILED A MONUMENT IN THE NEW PLACE DE REPUBLIQUE IN THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED IN DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC SINCE INDEPENDENCE WAS ACHIED.